A new report from the left-leaning Center for American Progress says more than 160,000 undocumented immigrants had jobs in Arizona before the pandemic. Most of them were part of a workforce that’s now crucial to fighting the virus.
So-called critical infrastructure workers are health care providers, support staff in medical facilities, and keep the food supply chain intact.
The pandemic has hurt low-wage earners the most so it’s likely undocumented people have felt it more than others, said Dave Wells with the Grand Canyon Institute.
“And even folks involved in health care,” said GCI’s research director who studies labor in Arizona. “During much of the pandemic they’ve actually been cutting off and laying off hospital workers.”
Nearly 70% of Arizona’s undocumented workers held what are now front-line jobs before the pandemic hit, according to data in the Center for American Progress report.
